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The Upchurch Village Carnival by David Wood
Loud booming music, village characters in fancy dress, slow moving processions with colourful floats, dog shows, wrestling, coconut shies, competitions and big crowds, the Upchurch carnival had it all and existed as a major annual village event every August for a period of thirty years. It generated great interest and participation not only from people in the village but also from far and wide.
Upchurch Cricket Club originally conceived the idea of a carnival in 1952 in aid of a memorial tablet to be placed in the church in memory of those from Upchurch who died in World War Two. The aim was to raise ₤30 to complete the fund and anything above this figure was to be kept by the cricket club. In later years the profits from the event contributed to a new village hall, then a village hall extension. Both were successfully achieved.
From small beginnings the carnival expanded to become one of the biggest of its kind in the area. A carnival committee organised the event although cricket club member Rich Boakes from Chaffes Lane played a big part in the early years organising the construction of frames and marquees in The Paddock, doll auctions and music.
The first carnival, held in September 1952 included a procession, a Carnival Queen (Inys Hales) and Miss Upchurch (June Barling), hula girls, clowns, a mini bride and groom and a flying bed on a bicycle. The Sheerness St Johns Ambulance Band led the procession around the village. A fete in the Paddock and a dance in the Infants School followed this. Before the procession the floats and competitors were judged on the recreation ground. This became the format of the carnival until 1982.
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The Upchurch Village Carnival 1953. |
Sometimes the carnival had a theme. In 1981 a medieval theme was used when residents and visitors dressed up as jesters, Robin Hoods and courtly ladies and people were put on display in the stocks.
Many village organisations were represented on floats and always outnumbered external ones. The Darby and Joan Club regularly took first prize and produced some of the most interesting, including, You're Never Too Old in 1959, The Wedding of Snow White in 1966, Music Hall Stars in 1975, Upchurch Safari Park in 1978 and Pearly Kings and Queens in 1980. In 1973 they even hired a 1933 Leyland bus for their entry Summer Outing. In 1954 they held centre stage on their float in the procession as they performed a rousing rendition of "The more we are together" to a piano accompaniment along the entire route.
Church Farm Road had five consecutive victories for the best tableau from 1968 to 1973. These included Tutenkhamun in 1972 and Power Crunch in 1973. Other entries included Drakes Close with A Touch of the East in 1961, the Women’s Institute with Gypsies in 1965, Upchurch Badminton Club with The Young Bucks at Upchurch Playgirl Club in 1966 and Crosier Court with Treasure Island in 1982.
Other awards were given for the ‘Best Dressed Vehicle’, won in 1952 by Mr Lesley Starns with his entry Garden of England. Peter Wildish won the Best Dressed Bicycle award with Spirit of Carnival in the same year. Other memorable vehicles included Revd Keith Chare with The Golden Hind in 1977.
The number of floats varied every year with the most being 37 in 1977. Attendances also increased as the years progressed with the most recorded being over 5,000 in 1978 which demonstrated how popular the carnival had become. Therefore, not only did increasing numbers of entries from the village participate but representatives from other areas also took part such as Miss Faversham, Miss Rainham Social Club, Miss Invicta Co-op and Miss Birchington.
Sometimes individuals stood out on floats, like Jill Hitchin as A Bird in a Gilded Cage in 1966 and Julie Goodman as a damsel being roasted in a pot by cannibals in 1974. On other occasions whole groups participated like the entire Upchurch Scout troop who were inside the dragon for their entry St George and the Dragon in the 1973 procession. In 1959 a troop of skipping mice accompanied the procession collecting donations in boxes while in 1981 N & D Motors from Rainham used a concealed water pipe on their float to periodically drench surprised spectators and send them running for cover.
The Carnival Queen became the focal point of the procession, seated on her own float with two attendants. In 1970 Lorraine Manley really became the centre of attention when she got caught in a downpour just before the procession. Within minutes her dress got drenched and became totally transparent. Soaked and embarrassed, she rushed home to change - the procession took off without her and unfortunately finished before her return.
Tragedy occurred in 1964 when popular Carnival Queen Barbara Webb was killed immediately after the procession in an accident involving the float on which she was travelling. This tragic incident hit the national headlines and shocked the people of Upchurch but the event continued in the future. Other memorable Carnival Queens included Evelyn Sketchley in 1954, Joyce Bass in 1956 Tina Madden in 1961, Kay Latter in 1963, Ann Davies in 1966, Beverley Williams in 1971 and Caroline Martin in 1979.
After June Barling participated as the first Miss Upchurch in the 1952 carnival others included Mary Batchelor in 1954, Rita Wickenden in 1960, Muriel Clements in 1962, Linda Ellis in 1965, Rosemary Gransden in 1966 and Mandy Bunting in 1982. In the late 1950s a Carnival King was even established with a memorable Brian Budd in 1958.
The carnival procession was annually led by a variety of people but Mr. J. W. Brunt from Oak Lane, a member of the Tickham Hunt who led the procession on several occasions, seated on his horse, dressed in hunting pink stood out most. A Rainham Fire Engine, Dick Turpin, Napoleon and a variety of bands also led the procession.
The carnival wasn't free from mishaps as in 1956 when a gale force wind blew down the marquees and frames on the eve of the event leaving organisers and volunteers to do a frantic, last minute rescue act. Furthermore, in 1979 a Rainham Fire Engine participated in the procession but had to leave temporarily to answer an emergency call. When it returned to rejoin it got stuck outside The Paddock causing a massive traffic jam in the village centre.
The fete, which followed the carnival, had many activities including bowling for the pig, coconut shies, a rifle range and a treasure hunt while loud, recorded pop music boomed across The Paddock. A tea tent refreshed the public and stalls sold a variety of goods. Children’s art competitions were even held in the Vicarage Rooms.
From 1957 a Dog Show began, organised by Jasmil Kennels owner Bert Millen. This became very popular and attracted competitors from all over Kent. In 1961 there were over 200 entries. A tug of war contest was also started in 1952 when A. Hinge & Son from Ham Green competed against Lower Halstow Working Men’s Club in the final of a competition consisting of four teams.
The annual fancy dress competition always aroused humour. In 1952 John Lewin won with Family Allowance and Hilda Clemons as Bessy Bunter. In 1954 regular winners Sally Atkinson and her daughter Sandra won as A Spanish Lady and A Jungle Princess respectively. In 1955 Stuart Hart was hilarious as The Elephant Man in the under five competition. In 1956 Emily Wigley turned people’s heads as Lady Docker, while Don Diffey posed with his flying machine in 1970. Fancy dress played a big part throughout the carnival and fete. In 1961 Annie Bronger posed as a rather oversize toddler for a competition 'Guess the Baby's weight'. Sometimes whole families dressed up like the Boakes family as characters from Doctor Who and the Davis family as a group of Martians.
The dogs also had a fancy dress competition with many comical entries, one of the funniest being in 1965 when a boxer dog named Chip entered dressed as Andy Capp with a cigarette in mouth.
In 1965 the pupils of Temple School, Strood, gave a trampoline display and by 1970 wrestling became established with village wrestler Phil Cooper performing with sizeable local support. In 1971 this was extended when M & R Promotions presented a tag-wrestling match between The Tigers and The Commancheros. By the late seventies this had become so popular that in 1978 TV wrestling star Johnny Kwango opened the fete then participated in a tag wrestling match with other well known wrestlers. In 1977 a Wild West shoot out given by the Western Saddle Club took place and in 1982 a troupe of majorettes from London gave a musical marching display while 12 teams competed in a newly formed pie throwing competition won by 'The Village Idiots.'
There were years when the carnival had limited success, particularly when the weather was bad. In 1974 children dressed as Little Slave Girls with bare midriffs trembled in the cold and the carnival Queen and attendants were wrapped in blankets. However, 1976 was the only year when the carnival failed to take place.
When the fete finished the day was concluded with a carnival dance, initially held in the Infant’s school, the village hall in later years. The only exception took place in 1954 when a concert was held in the Old Forge.
The carnival continued to boom and remained a massively popular event until 1982. Although it proved to be very successful and raised money for the village school swimming pool, future organisational problems arose, suddenly ending the biggest single, annual village event.
David Wood
About David
David Wood was born, raised and still lives in Upchurch today. He is able to write from personal experience about village life and the changes that have taken place over the years, making ‘Memories of Upchurch’ a very readable and detailed historical study of the village.
David's book is available from David at david3702001@yahoo.co.uk or from us here at Upchurch Matters. Price £12 + postage and packing.
